HP: I have a Proficiency Panel - 150

Chapter 150: Canary Creams Crisis

Draco Malfoy had never felt snow this cold. It made him shiver involuntarily.

The figure hidden beneath the black robes was like a thundercloud gathering. Even without moving, everyone knew a storm was coming.

Malfoy could not understand what had happened. He had deliberately avoided that Green, even going out of his way to steer clear. Before coming to Hogwarts, that would have been unthinkable. Now, he bitterly regretted not choosing Durmstrang.

His legs shook, and when he glanced sideways, Crabbe and Goyle looked almost ready to pass out.

That only made him more afraid.

In the midst of this, Professor Snape finally spoke.

“Ha… orphan…”

Snape’s voice was like a whisper from the depths of hell, cold and hollow.

…

When Harry and Ron left the Quidditch pitch, Shawn, Justin, and Neville were nearby.

The greenhouse and Quidditch pitch were not far apart, both at the back of the castle.

So when Harry and Ron looked over, they could just make out a few figures trudging through the snow.

“Is that… Shawn?” Harry asked, his words turning into mist as he wrapped his scarf tighter.

“Anyway, Snape is of course… um, it’s Shawn, Justin, and Neville. Oh, if Hermione weren’t busy reading ten more books, she’d be helping in the greenhouse too,” Ron answered, still listing Snape’s latest cutting remarks.

“So… us?” Harry was surprised by this group effort. No one had told him about it.

“Harry… you didn’t know? Oh! Of course you didn’t. You’ve been at Quidditch all day,” Ron shouted, the wind making him raise his voice.

“The greenhouse needs…”

Harry’s voice was lost in the snowstorm.

“Of course it does! Neville comes back looking dead every time!” Ron said, and they exchanged a knowing look.

The snow grew heavier. The greenhouse was full of plants that needed care.

Take Bubotuber, for example. Its pods needed to be squeezed regularly in winter.

More importantly, before squeezing, the pods had to be heated over a flame until they turned bright red. If you tried to squeeze a cold pod, the sharp, moving black seeds inside would explode.

Taking the pods from a wild, whip-wielding Bubotuber was no easy task. Fortunately, it was a job assigned to Bruce and two other upper-year students in Greenhouse Three.

But Shawn and the others often heard their screams—or rather, Bruce screaming while Leon laughed.

In front of the domed greenhouse, Justin was about to push the door open. Behind him, Neville was shyly sharing some plant-care tips with Shawn.

Snow clung to Shawn’s face as he nodded, his Speed Quill scribbling down notes, making Neville both happy and even more bashful.

“Shawn!”

“Shawn!”

When the greenhouse door opened, two distant shouts rang out.

It was Harry and Ron, running over. Professor Sprout, who had just pushed open the door to Greenhouse Three, smiled brightly.

How wonderful, how splendid…

“Congratulations on discovering the Hope Room’s secret task. Greenhouse One welcomes you. There are gloves on the shelves—don’t forget to take some,” Justin said, smiling warmly.

“Oh!”

Ron gasped, and Justin’s words instantly filled him with excitement.

“You can’t imagine, we just escaped from Snape’s clutches…”

Ron put on his gloves, so excited he did not know what else to say, and blurted out the topic he and Harry had just been discussing.

“If you make even a tiny mistake, he takes points from Gryffindor. And Neville—he’s always the target. Today, Snape was in a terrible mood. Ha! Even Malfoy couldn’t escape…”

Hearing Snape’s name, Neville turned pale, even trembling.

“He must hate me. He doesn’t realise that apart from those Slytherins who only flatter him, no one truly… likes him,” Harry said, clenching his jaw.

Justin frowned. From his observation, Snape was indeed harsh, but his teaching was unquestionable.

But at the thought of Snape’s actions, he stayed silent.

They did not know that far away, a wide black cloak stood in the snow with some indescribable purpose.

His dark eyes were fixed on the scene. After a sinister glance at Harry and Ron, they settled on a pair of green eyes.

“He’s not a good person. He’s alone because no one can stand him,” Ron muttered.

Harry nodded in agreement. One by one, they entered the greenhouse. Harry suddenly wanted to say something.

But then he heard a faint, quiet voice.

“Harry, even if there is no place for Professor Snape in this world, who are we to judge his soul?”

Shawn met Harry’s gaze, sighed softly, and entered the greenhouse.

Harry stood frozen. He rarely saw such a complex look, filled with so much he could not put into words.

He suddenly remembered what Hermione had told him—Snape was not the one trying to kill him.

A shiver ran through his spine. Then who was it?

The wide cloak was gone from the snow; only the place he had been watching remained, where a pair of green eyes had lingered all winter.

They were so alike.

“Well, gentlemen! Looks like we’ll finish early today!” Professor Sprout said, as enthusiastic as ever, checking that all five students had gloves to protect themselves.

But just as everyone grew excited and ready to work, a loud noise came from Greenhouse Three, followed by panicked shouts.

“Merlin’s beard—the Canary Creams really do turn into canaries!”

Professor Sprout’s face changed, and she hurried out.

Ron and Harry looked at each other, while Shawn and the others rushed to the door of Greenhouse Three.

Inside, vines whipped wildly. Bruce clutched a canary, face pale, darting around to avoid the Bubotuber. When he could not escape, he tossed the canary away and shouted, “Pist, remember when I saved you!”

Then he was knocked out by the Bubotuber.

Professor Sprout paled as she moved the unconscious Bruce aside.

At that moment, the canary transformed into a furious, red-faced Pist.

“What happened?” Justin asked, while Shawn saw the biscuit crumbs in Pist’s hand and understood.

“That fool! He gave Pist a strange biscuit while we were controlling the Bubotuber!”

Leon was furious—usually, he never cursed Bruce in front of Shawn.